Small Talk With The Lys

Small Talk With The Lys

By The Ly BrosSociety & Culture
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Small Talk With The Lys episodes

  • Ep. 32 Deutero-Isaiah Problem Explored In-Depth (pt. 2)

    While some claim the value of the Book of Mormon stems from its historicity, problems like multiple scholarship of Isaiah challenge these claims. 


    We present the first ever (that we are aware of) LDS comprehensive outlook on the Deutero-Isaiah problem of the Book of Mormon and how LDS apologists deal with the anachronism that Lehi and Nephi could not possibly have had access to the later Isaiah chapters. 


    Part 1 - Introduction to the Deutero-Isaiah Problem

    Part 2 - Arguments for/against Multiple Authorship of Isaiah 


    YouTube live version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYTePAdIy5s&t=2s

    View the powerpoint and scripture verses referenced here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lZnbHgaoREdhPlxXccxk0QnFd1tcTiBY/view?usp=sharing 

    Blog article explaining our motivation for doing this podcast: https://medium.com/@BrandonLy1/why-the-ces-letter-a05254bc3950

    1 hr 36 min
  • Ep. 31 Intro to the Deutero-Isaiah Problem
    While some claim the value of the Book of Mormon stems from its historicity, problems like multiple scholarship of Isaiah challenge these claims. 
    We present the first ever (that we are aware of) LDS comprehensive outlook on the Deutero-Isaiah problem of the Book of Mormon and how LDS apologists deal with the anachronism that Lehi and Nephi could not possibly have had access to the later Isaiah chapters. 
    Part 1 - Introduction to the Deutero-Isaiah Problem
    Part 2 - Arguments for/against Multiple Authorship of Isaiah 
    YouTube live version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYTePAdIy5s&t=2s
    View the powerpoint and scripture verses referenced here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lZnbHgaoREdhPlxXccxk0QnFd1tcTiBY/view?usp=sharing 
    Blog article explaining our motivation for doing this podcast: https://medium.com/@BrandonLy1/why-the-ces-letter-a05254bc3950
    46 min
  • Ep. 30 The CES Letter - DNA/Archaeology
    Is there any evidence for the Book of Mormon as a historical record?
    In this episode we debate whether DNA studies and archaeology can sufficiently prove/disprove the Book of Mormon's historicity. While none of us are specialists on DNA or archaeology, we summarize the arguments of critics and apologists in layman's terms.
    ~~ Why the CES Letter? (Blog post explaining my motivation for doing this podcast): https://medium.com/@BrandonLy1/why-the-ces-letter-a05254bc3950
    Music: "This Is Everything" by Josh Woodward. From the Free Music Archive. CC BY
    1 hr 11 min
  • Ep. 29 The CES Letter - The Eleven Witnesses (pt. 9)

    Are the witnesses to the Book of Mormon credible? 

    The CES letter tries to discredit the eleven witnesses to the Book of Mormon while apologists argue they are one of the strongest pieces of evidence in favor of the book's validity.  We examine the witnesses and their statements on "spiritual eyes" vs physical descriptions of the plates and discuss James Strange and the Plates of Laban.

    ~~ Why the CES Letter? (Blog post explaining my motivation for doing this podcast): https://medium.com/@BrandonLy1/why-the-ces-letter-a05254bc3950

    ~~ PowerPoint Presentation (PDF) https://drive.google.com/open?id=1lZnbHgaoREdhPlxXccxk0QnFd1tcTiBY

    Music: "This Is Everything" by Josh Woodward. From the Free Music Archive. CC BY

    41 min
  • Ep. 28 The CES Letter - Book of Mormon as Midrash
    Can one find value in the Book of Mormon, while dismissing it as an ancient history?
    We set the stage to our discussion of the CES Letter arguments against the BoM by proposing a faithful, yet intellectually honest way of viewing the controversial book.
    Greg Prince interview on Mormon Stories: https://www.churchistrue.com/blog/greg-prince-on-new-mormonism/
    Why the CES Letter? (Blog post explaining my motivation for doing this podcast): https://medium.com/@BrandonLy1/why-the-ces-letter-a05254bc3950
    Music: "This Is Everything" by Josh Woodward. From the Free Music Archive. CC BY
    58 min
  • Ep. 27 The CES Letter - The Prophet Puzzle in Light of the Book of Abraham (pt. 7)
    There's a joke circulating around that "The only thing we can be sure Joseph Smith believed in was astrology, as he died wearing a Jupiter amulet."
    Although the rumor is likely false, it shines light on the deep mystery of the nature and psychology of Joseph Smith. The more we dig, the more mysterious Joseph becomes. https://www.fairmormon.org/answers/Joseph_Smith/Occultism_and_magic/Jupiter_talisman
    This paradox has been famously termed the "Prophet Puzzle" by non-Mormon LDS studies scholar, Jan Shipps, and continues to puzzle the field of Mormon Studies over 45 years later. https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/four-views-of-joseph-smith-historians-debate-the-prophet-puzzle/
    In this episode, we discuss the competing, speculative theories on Joseph Smith's psyche in light of the problematic Book of Abraham translation and claim of historicity. While most "Prophet Puzzle" discussions lean on the Book of Mormon as its primary context, the Book of Abraham presents a more difficult problem in which we have more definitive historical knowledge about the translation process and artifacts. We try to tackle the unanswered questions that remain after one reads the LDS gospel topics essay on the Book of Abraham, in which the catalyst theory is proposed but no explanation given in reconciling Joseph Smith's claim that it was written by Abraham, "by his own hand upon papyrus".
    Do you think Don Bradley's prophetic explanation, Ann Tave's "inspired visionary" argument, Dan Vogel's "pious fraud" hypothesis, or Christopher Smith's conman claims hold any water? Let us know what you think of the Prophet Puzzle question in the comments. 
    ***
    Google Drive link to Alejandro's "catalyst theory" argument: https://bit.ly/3a4GJFU
    Why the CES Letter? (Blog post explaining my motivation for doing this podcast): https://medium.com/@BrandonLy1/why-the-ces-letter-a05254bc3950
    Music: "This Is Everything" by Josh Woodward. From the Free Music Archive. CC BY
    46 min
  • Ep. 26 The CES Letter - Strongest Case for the Catalyst Theory? (pt. 6)
    Critics of the Book of Abraham have long pointed out the flaws of Joseph Smith's "translation" of Egyptian from the Facsimiles.
    "As early as 1913, intelligentsia and leadership alike of the LDS church acknowledged that Smith had failed to meet the standards of contemporary scholarship regarding his translation efforts."
    -Terryl Givens
    https://bit.ly/2HzIqis
    Over a hundred years ago, B.H. Roberts made an argument similar to the "catalyst" theory promoted by the LDS gospel topics essay today.
    https://bit.ly/2P2gHLo
    In the February 1913 edition of the Improvement Era, he wrote:
    "Joseph Smith's purpose, as higher critics say the purpose of the New Testament writers was, NOT TO WRITE HISTORY, BUT TO EDIFY," to teach some religious truth "which they regarded as all important;" not to give out correct translations of ancient documents, but to give the world some "spiritual allegory, or drama."  [emphasis added]
    https://bit.ly/2HxIyPF
    But the "catalyst theory" - an attempt to allow the Book of Abraham to be considered an inspired work without necessarily having historicity - is problematic to some critics. If Joseph Smith's work should be viewed as pseudipigraphic, believers are left with thorny questions such as "How could Joseph Smith think he was translating an ancient document when he really wasn't?" or "Why would Joseph Smith claim the Book of Abraham was 'by his own hand written upon papyrus'?"
    https://bit.ly/37GXbuN
    In this episode of our series on The CES Letter, 4 Mormons attempt to make what they think to be the strongest possible argument and evidence in favor of the catalyst theory. Referencing the $2,400 expenditure of the scrolls (~$76,000 today), the First Vision as a "higher consciousness" experience, and the "onto-normativity" and continual attempt by Joseph Smith to experience the divine, we attempt to argue for a more complicated approach to understanding Joseph Smith's worldview from a psychological standpoint.
    We will continue our discussion of the "prophet puzzle" and psychology of Joseph Smith in next week's episode: "The Prophet Puzzle in Light of the Book of Abraham."
    ***
    Why the CES Letter? (Blog post explaining my motivation for doing this podcast): https://medium.com/@BrandonLy1/why-the-ces-letter-a05254bc3950
    Music: "This Is Everything" by Josh Woodward. From the Free Music Archive. CC BY
    1 hr 2 min
  • Ep. 25 The CES Letter - Book of Abraham Translation Issues (pt. 5)
    We discuss the multitude of problems in the Book of Abraham translation process and examine apologetic responses including the "missing scroll" and "long scroll" theories.
    Brian Hauglid changes his mind: https://proveallthingsholdfasttogood.wordpress.com/book-of-abraham-apologist-brian-hauglids-transformative-journey/
    Dan Vogel's work documented on YouTube was extremely helpful for us in this disucssion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtJT_xjIgdM
    Why the CES Letter? (Blog post explaining my motivation for doing this podcast): https://medium.com/@BrandonLy1/why-the-ces-letter-a05254bc3950
    Music: "This Is Everything" by Josh Woodward. From the Free Music Archive. CC BY
    1 hr 13 min
  • Ep. 24 The CES Letter - Applying Higher Criticism to the Book of Abraham (pt. 4)
    This episode features a deep dive into the Book of Abraham issues. We explore higher criticism (the scholarly study of scripture) and try to apply it to the Book of Abraham. Although the "CES Letter" and most apologists do not deal directly with this issue, we find it important enough to include in our discussion of the CES Letter issues.
    Issues discussed: background info to the Book of Abraham, Ur of Chaldees and location of Abraham, Genesis 11 and 12 discrepancy and how Abraham 2 reconciles this, and how Joseph Smith might have possibly known about the ancient traditions of Abraham and idolatry, human sacrifice, and astronomy.
    Very interesting interview with David Bokovoy on Mormon Stories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VloMOGotKTw&feature=emb_logo
    LDS Gospel Topics essay: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/translation-and-historicity-of-the-book-of-abraham?lang=eng
    Why the CES Letter? (Blog post explaining my motivation for doing this podcast): https://medium.com/@BrandonLy1/why-the-ces-letter-a05254bc3950
    Music: "This Is Everything" by Josh Woodward. From the Free Music Archive. CC BY
    44 min
  • Ep. 23 The CES Letter - Is Spiritual Witness Valid? (pt. 3)
    A common reaction to the CES Letter is "I've had too many spiritual experiences so [the CES Letter] doesn't matter".
    In this episode, Brandon, Justin, Alejandro, and Andre discuss their views on the validity of spiritual witnesses and the epistemology of testimony.
    Why the CES Letter? (Blog post explaining my motivation for doing this podcast): https://medium.com/@BrandonLy1/why-the-ces-letter-a05254bc3950
    The Phenomenology of the Divine (Jordan Peterson): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoQdp2prfmM
    Music: "This Is Everything" by Josh Woodward. From the Free Music Archive. CC BY
    47 min

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